Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has revealed that the Eagles were never considering signing Jarrod Bowen permanently during the January transfer window, as reported on Football London.
The manager confirmed that Palace were seeking an initial loan deal until the end of the season with an obligation to make the move permanent in the summer.
As quoted on Football London, Hodgson said:
Bowen was not a player we had discussed in those terms to buy. There was a discussion several weeks, or ten days before the transfer window closed, that Hull might be considering loaning him for a period of time, with an option to buy, and that interested us.
But there was never any question that we would go in and buy him outright. It was not something we had considered doing.
READ CRYSTAL PALACE VERDICt
Despite Palace reportedly agreeing on a £16m deal for Bowen, the attacker ended up joining Premier League rivals West Ham United on deadline day.
As reported on Sky Sports, there were multiple English clubs interested in securing his signature, including Newcastle United and Leeds United.
However, Palace’s decision to want Bowen on a loan deal first is a reflection of their strategy in recent transfer windows.
The club have brought in multiple players in on loan or on a free transfer, which we feel shows that they’re not willing to spend big money on players.
In the 2018/19 season, Palace signed six players either on loan or for free and this season they have brought in four players on similar terms (Transfermarkt).
We feel that this hesitancy to spend big on a proven player like Bowen, who scored 16 Championship goals this season, could be costly, mainly because he has now joined a direct relegation rival.
